AT&T/DirecTV Will Improve Bundled, Broadband Services

AT&T and DirecTV met with FCC staff April 16 to discuss substantial, direct and verifiable benefits the AT&T/DirecTV acquisition will have for tens of millions of consumers, AT&T and DirecTV said in an ex parte notice Monday. The acquisition will bring "improved bundles of services and enhanced and expanded broadband services for millions of Americans," it said. The combined company will have incentives to promote third-party online video distributor services, it said. AT&T and DirecTV urged the commission to promptly approve the transaction.